Is the 21" iMac £999 a good choice for an editor?

It depends on exactly what you plan to use it for and what your preferences are. The Mac OS x operating system is fantastic. Having used nearly every operating system that an average user would consider, I still find it to have the best user-experience. 999 pounds is a lot of money, if you invest in a Mac you'll be happy with your purchase, but three years up the road, when you're shopping for a new computer, you'll want nothing but Mac. It's addictive.

If you're a writer/editor I'd recommend a 13" Macbook Pro or Air and an external display. If you're a video editor I'd say you're looking in the right direction.

Consider this, If you plan on making simple videos you won't need more than iMovie, which comes included on every Mac. Simple videos imported and edited on iMovie can be done on the entry-level MacBook Air. So the entry-level iMac will be more than sufficient. If you plan to play with video effects and make high production value videos, you'll need the software. CS5 doesn't come cheap my friend. I think it's about a thousand dollars. That's not the full suite either.

You have a lot to think about. If you want to save money and don't mind windows and the video editing solutions that come with it, it's a decent choice. If you like Mac and OS x or want iMovie then Mac is a really excellent choice. the best advice I can give you is to go, no matter how far you need to travel, to the nearest Apple store. Ask an Apple associate for a tour of OS x and iMovie. Ask them the advantages and disadvantages of using Mac for video editing, they'll be honest, they have to. If you don't like what you see (get a good look at that price tag), then your path is clear. Good luck. I hope you find what you want, and join us .